PhD Position in Biostatistics at the Oslo Centre for Biostatistics and Epidemiology (OCBE) University of Oslo in Norway

The University of Oslo invites applications for a 3-year PhD Fellowship in Biostatistics at the Oslo Centre for Biostatistics and Epidemiology (OCBE), Institute of Basic Medical Sciences. OCBE is one of Europe's most active biostatistics centres, internationally recognized for its research in biostatistics, machine learning, and epidemiology, and maintains numerous collaborations with leading biomedical research groups both in Norway and internationally. The successful candidate will join the research group 'Statistical learning in molecular medicine' and participate in the T-PRESS consortium, which aims to support trustworthy personalized healthcare decisions.

The PhD project, entitled “Reliable Bayesian prediction models with uncertainty quantification for trustworthy personalized treatment decisions in the T-PRESS Evidence Ecosystem Framework,” focuses on developing Bayesian statistical and machine learning methods for treatment response prediction in cancer, specifically using adjuvant immunotherapy for renal cell carcinoma as a use case. The research will integrate clinical information, molecular tumor characterizations, and in vitro drug response experiments with patient-derived organoids (PDOs) to provide personalized risk assessments and predictions for treatment effect, including explicit uncertainty estimates. Key research questions include adapting statistical models for drug response, integrating heterogeneous clinical and multi-omics data, evaluating the predictive value of organoid data, and validating models for trustworthy clinical decision support.

The PhD program at the University of Oslo is designed for research training leading to a PhD degree in medicine and health sciences. Candidates are expected to publish several papers in leading scientific journals and complete a small number of advanced courses as part of their doctoral training. Admission to the doctoral program must be approved within three months of appointment.

Applicants must hold a master's degree in biostatistics, bioinformatics, statistics, mathematics, computer science, or a related quantitative field with proven competence in statistics. Ideal candidates will have a strong background in statistical methodology, especially Bayesian statistics and statistical learning for high-dimensional data, solid programming skills (R or Python), and a keen interest in interdisciplinary research involving molecular biology and cancer. English proficiency is mandatory; Norwegian language skills are not required. The University of Oslo values diversity and inclusion and encourages applicants from varied backgrounds, including those with disabilities or CV gaps.

The position offers a stimulating international research environment, meaningful tasks contributing to societal development, good welfare schemes, and career development opportunities. Salary ranges from NOK 550,800 to 595,000 per year, with membership in Statens Pensjonskasse providing additional benefits. Applications must be submitted via Jobbnorge, including a cover letter, CV, educational certificates and transcripts, documentation of English proficiency (if applicable), list of publications (if applicable), and 2-3 references. All documentation should be in English or a Scandinavian language. The deadline for applications is 17th May 2026.

For questions about the position, contact Professor Manuela Zucknick at [email protected]. For more information about the University of Oslo and OCBE, visit uio.no.